PM for improving education quality of private medical colleges

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today underscored the need for improving the quality of education and healthcare services of the private medical colleges, saying that the medical universities could monitor these activities.

“Many medical colleges are being established in the private sector. But we’ve to see whether proper education is being provided or actual doctors are being created,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina was addressing a function as the chief guest on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of Super Specialised Hospital of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and inauguration of the Convention Centre, Diagnostic and Oncology Building and Doctors Dormitory on the BSMMU campus here this morning.

The premier said the medical universities could properly monitor the activities of the private medical colleges. “They could keep surveillance on
whether students receive quality education from the private medical colleges,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government wants to make such arrangements. “We want to improve the quality of healthcare services,” she said.

The prime minister reiterated that medical universities will be established in all divisions of the country gradually to provide better medicare services to the people as well as to ensure higher education for the medical students.

“We’ve set up two medical universities in Chittagong and Rajshahi, while an approval was given to establish another medical university in Sylhet … we will set up medical universities in all divisions gradually,” she said.

In this connection, the public and private medical colleges will remain affiliated to the medical university set up in the respective division.

“But other medical colleges set up in the division where there is no medical university will stay affiliated to the BSMMU,” she said.

She, however, said Dhaka Medical College will remain affiliated to Dhaka University.

Sheikh Hasina said only post-graduation study will be provided alongside carrying out research at the medical universities. “Other activities will be
conducted by the medical colleges like the practice followed in foreign countries,” she added.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim were present at the function as the special guests, while BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua chaired the function.

Acting Secretary of Health Education and Family Planning Division of the Health Ministry GM Saleh Uddin delivered the welcome address, and on behalf of the Korean Ambassador in Dhaka Chow Min Joe spoke.

Project Director Professor Md Zulfiqar Rahman Khan made a presentation on the Super Specialized Hospital and other centre of excellence establishments.